The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-08
THE ISSUE.

SenteQ by The west Monroe cOnVentson
were not muddled, mi4represented
and distorted by blind aud urscvupu-
lous par,isans. With those alone who
wish to be deceived can these misrep-
RESERVATIONS be effective, The issue is
so clear that it cannot be lodged, dis
guised or misunderstood. The simple
aud unmistakable issue is shall each
white Democrat in Ouachita parish
have an equal share and voice and
vote in selecting the officers of this
parish. Or, on the other hand, shall a
few white men by virtue of their
power and Influence over negro voters
monopol;za all the political power in
Ouachita parish. In fact, it is the
same cid question of liberty and equal
rights which has arisen in every coun~
try in the contests ofthe people against
their oppressors. II has been said over
and over again that this is white
mons country and that the Democracy
is white mans party. This is what
we fought for in 1876. Now the ques-
ton arises: shall the majority Of white
men rule this country or shall the ne
groes be used by a few desperate poll
ticians TO enslave themselves and the
masses OF white men?
There arc only two arguments which
the bulldozers use in opposition 10 equal
suffrage among white men. 1st. They
say that the white men east of the
Ouachita represent more property than
Hill Democrats, and therefore are en-
titled to wider influence in public af.
fairs. Can free people tolerate such
nonstrous doctrine? Is one white
man better than another because he
owns moro property? Because Mr.. A
owns large plantation-whIch, per-
haps, is mortgaged for more than 1t is
worth-does that give him more inter-
est in the country than the small white
farmer who earns his living by honest
tot! : Is it true Democracy to say that
railroad magna:e shall, have more
votes in the councils Of the party than
the sterling mechanic, who has more
pluck, energy, industry and manhood
than his employer Are we to have
class distinctions in the party Of tho
people Away with such odious pres
of the Ouachita, we care not what his
wealth may be, who dares to assert
any just right to more votes in the
Democratic party than Mr.. Il. or Mr..
G. who lives in Monroe or in the west
ern part Of the parish. The white men
OF Ouachita will lose all claims to the
citizens if they permit themselves TO
be run over by II shabby but supercil-
ious olIgarchy, whose only excuse is
that white Democrats are not equal.
2nd. In the next place the bulldozers
say that they are bound 10 oppose n
pure white Democracy or they could
not elect good officers f; in other words,
they could not elect their ring candi-
dates if the nominations were left to the
white Democrats. This is really why
tho ring opposes the exclusion of ne
grocs from Democratic meetings. But
is it not a disgrace to the heroes of
1876 for them to acknowledge that
they cannot secure the suffragcs of a
majority of our white citizens? Is it
true that any of the men running for
Office fear decision by the white
men? If so we want to know the
names of such candidates. If tho ring
candidates for Judge, Clerk, Sheriff or
District Attorney are afraid of eXclu-
sively white primaries, let them shy
so. The people have a right TO know
how each candidate stands on this vi
tai question. We do not believe that
any candidate will have the effrontery
and hardihood to oppose the principle
that each white man is politically
equal and that the majority of the
white mon in this parish should rule
it. What II fine standing before the
people of tho State would any man
have who boldly seeks 10 be hoisted
into office on the backs of a negro mob!
What sptendid reputation and char.
acter will bc Let TO his postcrity by
any candidate who refuses TO leave the
nomination to the majority of his